I’ve noticed that I don’t like the cold of Winter as much as I could tolerate it when I was a bit younger. Go figure. Or maybe it was just that 2nd snowiest December on record that is making me darn tired of snow and cold this year. Whatever the reason, I want Spring, now!
Oh well… no UC stuff today… its the first day of my college classes (two this semester). Thus some days will be real short here. Sorry.
Due to a few medical appointments I have today, there will be no work done for the UC ’09 area today. Health in more important than the show today, simple as that. Even though I am not working on it, I’m still thinking about it, especially how I’m going to re-create the main sign for my area (as it was damaged too much last year – by accident).
Oh, and one bit of news. I may be getting a little gift from an Odyssey2 friend, Rick. A little something that I’ll bring to the show for sure! 
As I did last year, I have gotten the Vectrex ready to go first, as it is the easiest system to get prepared. That fact that it is an all-in-one console sure helps! 
I will be using the VecFlash for most of the show, even though I’m disappointed in the fact that some games just would not play with this programmable multi-cart. Thrust and Moon Lander are two big examples, that crashed every time I tried them with the VecFlash. It is a nice programmable cartridge, but I have found that it does have its limits.
For the Vectrex ’09 display, I will be mainly running these games (at best, probably less – it just makes it simpler and easier to run the show with fewer games):
- Berzerk (something that people would recognize)
- Hyperchase (darn good racing game)
- Mine Storm (built-in, but a very, very good game)
- Patriots (great homebrew)
- RipOff (good space game)
- Scramble (another recognizable arcade game)
- Space Wars (great two-player game)
- Spike Hoppin’ (good homebrew)
- Star Trek (always fun to play)
I will more than likely be bringing a set of Homebrew games just for display, but this will allow for the running of Moon Lander and Thrust too. I really would like to show both of these games to the public.
It’s a Sunday, or one of the sundays in which I play D&D (3.5 for those who care). Thus, there will be no updates on the UC area today. Sorry. Plus I have a few other things I need to get done. Hope to post something more substantial tomorrow.
It is a Saturday night, and I don’t have a lot of time to devote to doing any UC business, as I’ve got other things to do as well. Such is life. I did manage to pull out the Vecflash cartridge I bought last year, and I will be attempting to load it up with some games for the show this year. I don’t plan on putting a lot of games on it, as I’ve found out too many choices just doesn’t work well. You end up with people just glancing at the various games, and not really getting into any of them. Thus, I will probably load about 6 games tops onto the programmable multi-cart.
Currently, if I get this thing to work – and I don’t see why not – I’m thinking of loading these games, and possible a homebrew or two as well:
- Hyperchase (darn good racing game)
- Mine Storm (built-in, but a very, very good game)
- Space Wars (great two-player game)
- Star Trek (always fun to play)
- Web Wars (not totally sure on this, but it is one of my favorites)
- Homebrew games (I still have to pick a few of these out – not sure which ones yet).
I was going to try to post at least a little something everyday before the MGC ’09 show. However, with the bitter cold here in Wisconsin, my brain went into hibernation mode. Thus, I slept most of the day, must to my annoyance..
Here’s to tomorrow!
Yes, after weeks (and months) of putting things off, I’m finally starting on the UC ’09 stuff. Better late than too late. I’ve pulled out the old Vectrex, which is working like a champ so far. All I need to do now is get out the programmable multi-cart for it, and load up some games. Easier said than done though, as I have to find the multi-cart, and figure out the software. Hopefully this will not take too long
I also looked around at what I have in the basement, including the Apple IIe I got a few years back. I should be digging that out of storage shortly. Everything else will go as I move along, in no particular order.
I will be working on the updated UC area main signage in a few weeks, as the old sign for the last two years got damaged last year on the trip back home. Not sure how I’ll do it, but I’d like some color in it this year, as I do have a color printer.
Well, it is a start. For now, I leave you with a picture of the IIe still packed away (for the moment), and the Odyssey2 (still not modified yet, but I had it out to test a secret project for a friend of mine).
Happy New Year to all out there. Hope you had a good Holiday season.
As for the Underdog Chamber for 2009, I’ve narrowed down my choices of systems for this year. They will be (which is always subject to last minutes change):
- Mac LAN (running 8 player Quake – on classic OS 9)
- Apple IIe/IIgs (will be bringing both the IIe and IIgs this year)
- Philips G7400 (the Odyssey3 twin from Europe will return in ’09 from hiatus last year)
- Gamecube (the popular underdog of the last generation systems be on display again)
- Odyssey2 (this will always be at the show, but it will be there on display with the G7400)
- ZX81/TS1000/TS1500 (not on display last year, the old Sinclair will be back in ’09)
- Vectrex (will return with the new programmable multi-cart)